Land in Auckland, pick up your rental car and make your way to Waitomo - the drive takes about two and a half hours. Millions of years in the making, the caves in the Waitomo region are an underground wonderland of stalactites, stalagmites, glow worms, sinkholes and subterranean waterways. After exploring Waitomo, continue driving to Rotorua, which takes just over two hours.

Things to see and do in Waitomo

Explore the Waitomo Caves the easy way, on a walking or boat tour

If you're feeling more adventurous, try black-water rafting - you'll crawl, swim, and float through the caves on a rubber tube

For an authentic caving experience, you can explore vast caverns the way spelunkers do it - by abseiling, climbing and ziplining

Rotorua is legendary for its hot thermal springs, geothermal wonders, world class mountain bike trails, spectacular lakes and lush forests that can be explored on walkways, mountain bikes or ziplines. Home to our unique Māori culture, this is the place where the traditional and contemporary aspects of Māoridom are celebrated for all to share.

Things to see and do in Rotorua

Culture

Experience an evening cultural show in the heartland of Māori culture. Manaakitanga (hospitality) is something the Te Arawa Māori have been providing visitors for more than 150 years

Get a contemporary take on Māori culture through Rotorua's food, arts, crafts, fashion and technology

Nature

Take a scenic ride to the top of Mount Ngongotaha on the Skyline Gondola and enjoy panoramic views over the lake and surrounding mountains

While you're up Mount Ngongotaha, ride the luge, Skyswing and zipline before refuelling at the fully licensed restaurant

Explore Rotorua's native and exotic forests at your own pace through a network of trails, tree platforms and swing bridges, or fly through trees on a zipline for a more surprising point of view

Hire a mountain bike and explore the Whakarewarewa Redwood forest. The 130km trail network has something for every skill level

Visit one of Rotorua's many geothermal attractions, where you can feel the spirit of the earth as it rumbles beneath your feet and escapes, hissing, through fumaroles and geysers

The Bay of Plenty is home to incredible beaches, juicy kiwifruit and New Zealand's only active marine volcano. Kiwis treasure this part of the world, where white sand beaches coexist with ancient volcanoes. Mount Maunganui (aka 'The Mount') is a surfing mecca with great beach breaks, saltwater hot pools and nature walks. An hour from the Mount is Whakatāne, where Whakaari - New Zealand's only active marine volcano - is just off the coast.

Things to see and do in the Bay of Plenty

Activities

Kayak through the enchanting glow worm canyon on Lake McLaren near Tauranga

Learn to surf on the main beach at Mount Maunganui

Go blokarting at Papamoa - the ultimate land sailing experience

Walk around or up Mauao, the impressive extinct volcanic cone at the end of the Mount Maunganui peninsula

Visit Whakaari (White Island) by helicopter or boat. The island's moody volcanic ash scenery is brightened by yellow sulphur crystals growing around the edges of hissing fumaroles. You'll walk right through the main crater - amazing! To do this tour, we recommend you book ahead

Culture

Feed your soul at Mataatua Marae, New Zealand's most-travelled Māori meeting house. Your visit will provide an intimate engagement with the people of Ngāti Awa, an iwi (tribe) centred in the eastern Bay of Plenty region

The half-day journey around East Cape to Gisborne is one of New Zealand's most spectacular road trips. The rugged mountain and oceanic scenery is beyond beautiful, and you'll come across remote coastal and inland villages that are a world away from mainstream life. As you approach Gisborne, towns and beach settlements become more frequent. Gisborne itself is a sunny, easy-going city that's known for excellent surf and remarkable wines, especially chardonnay, gewürztraminer, pinot gris, and chenin blanc. Food culture is also something to get excited about here.

Things to see and do in Tairāwhiti Gisborne

Take a look at St Mary's Church in Tikitiki, which artfully blends Māori and European design

Detour from Te Araroa to see historic East Cape Lighthouse

Call into Tokomaru Bay to see the historic wharf and woolsheds

Walk the longest pier in New Zealand at Tolaga Bay, which at 660 metres is quite a stretch. Recently restored, this concrete pier is a great spot for surf photography. There's also a walk nearby to Cook's Cove, where Captain Cook topped up the Endeavour's water supplies

Soak up the sun at gorgeous Wainui Beach, one of New Zealand's best surf beaches

In the warmer months, venture 50km north-west of Gisborne and visit Rere Falls. There's also New Zealand's longest natural rockslide here, for 60 metres of slip-sliding water fun

Drink

Discover the joy of barrel-fermented chardonnay and find out why Gisborne is called 'the chardonnay capital of New Zealand'. A stimulating wine trail will lead you to local wineries and winemakers.

Return your rental car and fly from Gisborne to Wellington. Flight time is just over one hour. You'll land in the world's coolest little capital, a compact city full of culture and character. Built around a stunning harbour and surrounded by hills lined with colourful timber houses, Wellington is known for its vibrant café and restaurant scene. It's said to have more bars and restaurants per capita than New York City! Downtown Wellington is ideal for exploring by foot because accommodation, transport, cafes, restaurants, shopping and major attractions are concentrated into a relatively small area.

Things to see and do in Wellington

Activities

Discover the treasures and stories of New Zealand at Te Papa, the country's extraordinary and interactive national museum

Enjoy a stroll around Zealandia, the world's first fully-fenced urban eco-sanctuary. Meet some of New Zealand's rarest birds, reptiles and insects

Catch the historic cable car from Lambton Quay up to the Botanic Gardens

Immerse yourself in 20 years of creativity at Weta Studios. Get up close to the authentic props, costumes and concept designs created by Weta Workshop for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit motion picture trilogies, as well as Avatar, District 9, and more

Walk up to the Mount Victoria lookout for blockbuster views of the harbour and city

Visit Wellington Zoo, the 'best little zoo in the world', which works closely with the Department of Conservation to care for native animals that have been injured

Shop, eat and drink

Browse colourful Cuba Street to find one-of-a-kind stores and great places to eat. Get splashed by the Bucket Fountain!

Wellington's compact CBD makes for an easy shopping experience. Spend the afternoon finding the perfect New Zealand gift or shop for yourself in the many fashionable stores

Wander along the beautiful waterfront promenade to Oriental Bay. Along the way you'll find cafes, bars, ice cream vendors, parks and sculptures

Fly non-stop from Wellington, then collect your rental car. Dunedin is a heritage city that oozes charm and character. It has New Zealand's finest examples of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, including magnificent stone and brick buildings with wrought iron detailing. It also has a reputation for fine arts, colourful student life and quirky events. If you like cities with a creative edge, you're going to love Dunedin.

Close to the city is Otago Peninsula, where you can see rare and wonderful native animals in their natural habitat. Royal albatross (toroa), yellow-eyed penguins (hoiho), fur seals (kekeno) and sea lions (whakahao) live on the peninsula. Dunedin is also handy to Moeraki and Oamaru, places of interest just up the coast.

Things to see and do in Dunedin

Activities

Visit Larnach Castle, built in 1871 by Scottish merchant William Larnach. The castle and its splendid gardens have been carefully restored. You'll learn about Victorian culture and the castle's scandalous and tragic history

Wanaka is an all-year-round lakeside resort town and the gateway to spectacular Mount Aspiring National Park. This special place has been a place of inspiration for Māori and Europeans, with both cultures valuing its alpine beauty, natural resources and recreational opportunities. Here you can pursue adventure at your own pace, in your own time and in your own way. Even if you're not an outdoor enthusiast, there's plenty to do in Wanaka. You can explore stylish shops and galleries, then enjoy local flavours at a great selection of cafes, pubs and restaurants.

Things to see and do in Wanaka

Activities

In the colder months, Wanaka offers a choice of three fantastic snow sport areas - Cardrona, Treble Cone and Snow Farm. All are within a 40-minute drive of the town

Kea, the world's only alpine parrot, live in the Wanaka region. Their outer plumage is olive green and brown; beneath their wings the feathers are bright reddish-orange. You might encounter them on ski fields or you can walk to Rob Roy Glacier, a popular kea hangout

Take a guided tour of Mou Waho Island, one of five islands within Lake Wanaka. It's a sanctuary for native species

Show for handmade food, arts and crafts at the Wanaka Artisan Market, which is held every Thursday afternoon

Nature

Get a birds-eye view of Wanaka from the top of Mount Iron. This 90-minute hike offers a 360 degree panorama of the whole region

In the warmer months, explore the wilderness, mountains, river valleys and alpine lakes of Mount Aspiring National Park, which has a network of beautiful hikes that cater for all levels of fitness. The park is also accessible by jet-boat, plane and helicopter - you can even land on a glacier high in the mountains

The road trip to Christchurch is packed with epic scenery and places of interest. You'll drive over the Lindis Pass, and then through the Mackenzie region, which was named after a famous Scottish sheep rustler. Highlights of the journey include views of Mount Cook and the Southern Alps, bright turquoise alpine lakes and the Church of the Good Shepherd. As you head towards the east coast, the scenery gradually changes until you're surrounded by the verdant productiveness of the Canterbury Plains.

Christchurch is an elegant hub of urban creativity, natural beauty and unexpected adventures. Set against a majestic ocean-to-alps backdrop, the city's glorious gardens and parks, vibrant street art and serene river scenery set it apart. Following the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, Christchurch embarked on some of the most innovative revitalisation projects in the world.

Things to see and do in Christchurch

Activities

Glide along the Avon River/Ōtākaro on a relaxing, eco-friendly punting tour. An experienced punter dressed in traditional Edwardian attire will propel you gently along the river while you admire the city from the tranquillity of your own boat

Discover the city's centre on beautiful historic trams, then get off on Rolleston Ave to visit the Botanic Gardens

Head to the International Antarctic Centre for a genuine snow and ice experience. You'll survive an Antarctic storm, take an exciting ride on the all-terrain, amphibious Hagglund, experience a magical simulated 4D Antarctic cruise and hang out with little blue penguins

Soar above the suburbs on the Christchurch Gondola as it takes you to the Crater Rim at the top of the Port Hills. You'll enjoy the stunning views 500 meters above sea level and experience a time tunnel journey through the history of the Port Hills and Christchurch

Shop, eat and drink

Visit the Christchurch Arts Centre, a collection of Gothic Revival buildings packed with opportunities to shop for arts, crafts and delicious food

Shop at The Tannery in Woolston for gorgeous things to wear and take home

Return your rental car and fly from Christchurch to New Plymouth airport, where you'll collect another rental car. New Plymouth is the main centre of Taranaki, a region that's loved for outdoor adventures, gorgeous gardens and off-beat art experiences. The landscape is absolutely remarkable, from the picture-perfect peak of Mount Taranaki to the black sand surf beaches that decorate the coast.

Things to see and do in Taranaki

Activities

Visit the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Zealand's leading contemporary art museum and home to the Len Lye Centre, which is dedicated to pioneering filmmaker and kinetic sculptor Len Lye

Visit Pukekura Park to explore the Fernery, display houses and Brooklands Zoo. Every year this park hosts the TSB Festival of Lights.

Walk, bike or skate along New Plymouth's seafront promenade

Nature

Take a drive around Taranaki's Surf Highway 45, where you'll find brilliant beaches, shipwrecks, Māori pā sites, and more

Explore short walks in Egmont National Park, which has Mount Taranaki at its centre - New Zealand's most perfectly formed volcano

Hike the Pouakai Crossing, New Zealand's newest guided walking trail. It's a fascinating one-day hike through a volcanic and alpine landscape with significant cultural history